10 years ago today an historic event took place that changed most of our lives. As I watch the television coverage, I can’t help but think about where I was that day. I was a wide-eyed, recent college graduate and had started my first real job in technology at one of the investment banks a few weeks earlier. By that point my travel routine was set. I took NJ Transit into the World Trade Center, would grab a quick coffee and head to the office on Church Street about a block away. On 9/11, I took an earlier train to get some extra work done and got to my desk before 8am. In retrospect I was lucky that I did as many of my colleagues were stuck on other trains or had just arrived at WTC as the planes struck. When the first plane hit no one knew what happened. We heard a loud explosion and rushed to the windows. Staring up at the building we saw the other plane hit. At that instant we knew this was no accident and was an act of terrorism. A small group of us decided we wanted to not only get out of the building, but also the city. We started walking uptown toward the midtown ferry, which was still running. I vividly remember the surreal experience walking down the middle of Broadway with no cars on the road and thousands of people just standing around. While I got home safe that day after about 8 hours, a ferry, bus and train ride, I can’t help but think about those who didn’t. My heart goes out to all of those people who lost loved ones ten years ago. We can honor those lost by never forgetting.
{ 0 comments }
